Artemis Fowl: The Unpredictable Future

Chapter 26: The End Is Near

Holly groaned as she stirred awake and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Ugh... What time is it?" After several moments of silence, she squinted her eyes open as the morning sun rays peeked through the treetops. As her eyes got adjusted to the light, she looked around to discover she was by herself. "Artemis? Kit?" She stood and held her arms together. "Artemis!"

"Yes?"

Holly jumped and turned around to see him walk from behind the large tree with Mystari. She placed a hand on her chest and whined, "Give an elf a little warning next time. Where did you go? Also, where's Kit?"

"She said there was some sort of business she had to take care of. After she mended my shirt, she took off. I told her where we would be heading and that we were working on a way to get back home." He let go of Mystari and walked towards her, subtly limping on his way over. "We should get going before we worry our friends any more than we already have. Kit promised to see us off as well." He gave her a smile and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Holly eyed him curiously, "What were you doing with Mystari and why do you look hurt?"

Artemis rubbed the back of his head as he led her towards the horse, "You're certainly full of questions this morning. I needed Mystari's help to walk around for a bit. As I expected, my body is in extreme pain. I am so glad I don't have to walk my way back to Foaly's." Once they were behind Mystari, Artemis placed his hands onto Holly's hips, but was greeted with a swift smack.

"I can get up on my own, thank you." Holly jumped up and landed onto the horses back as she gently gripped onto his mane.

Artemis tilted his head slightly as he looked up at her. "You're normally quite the morning fairy. Is there something bothering you?"

She chose not to return his gaze and instead beckoned Mystari to slowly canter forward. "Artemis I..." She sighed.

Artemis held one hand against Mystari's side as he walked steadily beside them, ignoring the soreness in his body. "I had hoped our deal went both ways between us. No more secrets."

She looked to the side at the ground where Artemis was not standing, "I'm sorry. For all this confusion. We both have done so many strange things since we've been here and none of it makes sense to me. Honestly, I believe that we should..." She paused and heaved a deep sigh, "We should go our separate ways when we return home."

Artemis slowly moved his gaze towards the ground, trying to process what exactly she was saying to him. "You mean... Not even as friends?"

Holly closed her eyes and shook her head, "Not even as friends. We could end up making the same mistakes if we stay even that close together."

Artemis felt his heart drop. She thinks that this was all a mistake?

She looked over to him and frowned. "I've thought about it every now and then, and I think the only reason I... you know... started this behavior with you is because we both needed comfort. I truly believed that we could be together here if we didn't have the choice of returning home, but now that you know of a way... Artemis, I wasn't lying when I said I had feelings for you. But it is because I have feelings for you that it can't be like this." She looked down, "We can't be like this."

Artemis stopped walking, keeping his gaze down. Holly pulled on Mystari's mane, getting him to stop in his tracks as well, before sliding off his back. She held herself as she walked up to him, "Artemis..."

He looked up and gave her a smile full of sorrow, "I understand and acknowledge everything you have said. However, there is one piece of information that you don't have that you need to hear right now. I wanted to tell you last night, but you didn't want to hear any more of my explanations." He looked over to find a familiar rock formation. He grabbed the back of Mystari's mane and walked him towards the rock with Holly following behind them. He sat down and left enough room for her to sit next to him.